The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) to immediately inaugurate its 17-member governing board, warning that continued delay is a breach of the NSC Establishment Act 2023 and undermines transparency in sports governance.
In a statement issued on Sunday by SWAN Secretary-General, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, on behalf of President Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, the association stressed that the Commission has been operating without a statutory board since its creation in October 2024 — a situation it described as “gross violation” of the law.
“As a statutory board member of the NSC, I’m compelled to urge the Chairman and Director-General to take all necessary steps to inaugurate the board without further delay,” Benjamin said.
“Operating without a duly constituted board for nearly a year is not only a breach of the law but also undermines transparency and accountability.”
Citing Section 2(1) of the Act, SWAN reminded stakeholders that the NSC board must include representatives from ministries, sports bodies, the organised private sector, academia, medical field, military, persons with disabilities, the Nigeria Football Federation, the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, and SWAN itself.
The SWAN President linked the governance lapse to broader challenges in Nigerian sports, referencing unresolved litigation involving the Nigeria Football Federation and controversies surrounding the Athletics Federation of Nigeria elections. He criticised the NSC for operating as a “two-man entity” comprising only the Chairman and Director-General, with 15 other mandated positions left vacant.
SWAN also lamented the exclusion of its expertise in managing media operations for sports federations, stressing that professional sports journalism remains vital to enhancing sports promotion, boosting digital visibility, and attracting sponsorship.
“A situation where unnecessary political or non-professional approaches dominate the Commission’s operations is not the way forward,” Benjamin warned, urging strict adherence to the law in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for accelerated and holistic sports development in Nigeria.
